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Francis grants Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion

Tuesday, November 22nd 2016 - 12:00 UTC
Full article 18 comments
Pope Francis allows priests to pardon abortion seekers Pope Francis allows priests to pardon abortion seekers

In an apostolic letter published on Monday, the Pope underlined that the Catholic Church needs to bring reconciliation back to “its central place in the Christian life.” The measure is said to be temporary.

 “I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life,” explained the Pope. “In the same way, however, I can and must state that there is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father.“

Having said that, the Pontiff also wrote: “I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion.” He added that “the provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary.”

In the Catholic faith, abortion is a moral evil and those who procure it are automatically excommunicated from the church, forbidden from obtaining sacraments such as reconciliation, or absolution for sins committed. or that was the case before now. So in granting priests permission to forgive abortion, the Catholic Church is effectively removing an “obstacle” between a Catholic's “request for reconciliation and God’s forgiveness.”

Francis went on to encourage others to be merciful, ”because no one is spared suffering, pain and misunderstanding.”

Categories: Politics, International.

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Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Marti Llazo

    This offer limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year and may be extended under the sole discretion of the judges. At participating locations only. While supplies last. Void where prohibited. Batteries not included. Contestant must be present to win. No purchase necessary. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Some assembly required. Contents may settle during shipment. Use only as directed. Not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. No other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use if pregnant or intending to become pregnant. Offer not valid in Quebec.

    Nov 22nd, 2016 - 07:01 pm +2
  • pgerman

    Francisco..Who cares your forgiveness?...It might be the time to think about officially splitting the Catholic Church from the Government issues in Argentina. We must enter in the current century....

    Nov 23rd, 2016 - 12:52 pm +2
  • pgerman

    I know that you like to show off that you are a clever boy that knows about everything. But I regret to tell you that you don't.

    1) Masonry is not a religion. As a result of this, we don't have temples (in the correct concept of a “temple”), no altars (in the concept of altar), no prayers, no worship and no feast days and there is no promise of rewards or punishment in the afterlife at all.

    We do have a moral code, vestments and initiation and burial rites that doesn't mean we are a religion. Again, the “Great Architect of the Universe” doesn't mean it is a God. Its concept was inspired on an idea of tolerance almost 300 years ago. It can represent any God (the christian God, the jewish God, the muslim God, etc), the creative force of nature or simply nothing. Each os us can put on this symbol our personal beliefs. It depends on each of us. That's why non believers, like myself, are accepted in the institution.

    2) “In Western countries the governments are completely free and secular”... that means that the Government doesn't economically support any Church. It also means that it has no privileges. It also means that religion doesn't inspire laws.

    (The mentioned countries are some with strong Freemason traditions but they are the ones where Masonry is deist. I must have told you that there are several masonic rites).

    3) Unlike you I'm not a wise boy at all, in fact, I'm just searching for the light in my trip to the East.

    Should you have any additional doubt or question about Masonry, please, feel free to let me know. I'll be more than happy to assist you.

    Nov 23rd, 2016 - 05:48 pm +2
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